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Textiles recycling banks roll out following successful trial

New textiles recycling banks are popping up in locations across the borough following a successful trial to prevent clothes, shoes and recyclable materials from ending up in landfill.

Central Street textile bank

Article date: 15 August 2025

In a 2021 study by Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority, as much as 7 per cent of waste collected in the borough's brown bins was made up of textiles that could have been reused or recycled - that's an estimated 2,800 tonnes of recyclable materials gone to waste.

St Helens Borough Council has partnered with Widnes-based Roberts Recycling Ltd to ensure that garments and textiles have a life after we no longer want or need them.

Roberts Recycling are a family-run textile recycling company that's all about making a positive impact. Their top priority is keeping textiles out of landfill and are proud to reduce the carbon footprint of unwanted textiles by keeping them in circulation for longer and recycling them ethically when they come to the end of their useful life. 

After collecting textiles, they process it at their Knowsley or Cardiff depots. Subsequently, the clothing is then shipped to their trusted partners across Europe and the Middle East, where it is distributed and put to good use.

This scheme follows a recent successful trial and to date has saved more than 80 tonnes of textiles for recycling or reuse.

20 textile banks can now be found in council-managed carparks around the borough, and this is slowly increasing. The scheme is delivered at no cost to the council, which receives a share of onward proceeds from the materials. Since May, the scheme has brought in just under £3,000. 

And as part of the social value aspect of the contract, in partnership with Roberts Recycling Ltd the council will be introducing textiles talks in schools to educate children on the importance of reducing consumption of clothing amid fast-fashion shopping trends, and reusing and recycling textiles.

Councillor Tracy Dickinson, St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Environmental Services, said:

"New textiles have a much larger environmental cost than many of us realise, from the thousands of litres of water and chemicals used in production, to the carbon emissions that result from their distribution.

"These new textiles recycling banks across the borough grant residents another way in which to live more sustainably, while supporting good causes around the world and preventing further materials from ending up in landfill.

"Separately, each of us can do our bit in the way we eat, travel and heat our homes, and the way we reuse and recycle the things we buy. Together we can make waste a thing of the past."

For more information visit www.sthelens.gov.uk/textiles

Textiles recycling banks can be found at:

  • Birchley Street Car park, WA10 1HT
  • Central Street Car park, WA10 1TZ
  • Nunn Street Car park, WA10 1RZ
  • North John Street Car park, WA10 2JT
  • Higher Parr Street Car park, WA9 1AG
  • Four Acre Lane Car park, WA9 4JX - three banks at this location
  • Tamworth Street Car park, WA12 9NJ
  • Fairclough Street Car park, WA12 9QR
  • Elephant Lane on Thatto Heath Labour Club Car park, WA9 5RA
  • Ward Street Car park, WA10 1TF
  • Queens Park Health and Fitness, WA10 2LT
  • At the side of Morrisons Daily, 2 Sutton Park Drive WA9 3TX
  • The Hut, Newton-le-Willows WA12 9HS
  • Church Road Rainford, at the side of Hair WA11 8HD 
  • Dane Court Car park, Rainhill, L35 4LU 
  • Earle Street Car park, Newton le Willows WA12 9PE 
  • Within the Car Park at Age UK, Victoria Park WA10 2UE 
  • Sutton Leisure Centre WA9 5AU
  • Tango in Park Street Haydock WA11 0BG

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Last modified on 15 August 2025